WHEN things weren't going to plan at Blackburn Cathedral a simple click of the fingers was enough to restore order.

For the last eight-and-a-half years Howard Waddell has been head verger at the Cathedral.

And as the 50-year-old packed his bags today to take up a similar post at Chichester he hoped the high standards set during his time in East Lancashire would be his lasting legacy.

He said: "I enjoy my job and I've enjoyed my job here. I always like things to be of a high standard and my staff here will be carrying that tradition on. I don't like things to be sloppy.

"Sometimes when things were going wrong I could click my fingers and they would know exactly what was needing done."

A former personnel employee with the Royal Mail, Howard turned to the church following the death of his mother and his career has taken off in leaps and bounds.

He said: "I used to help out in the church on a Sunday but I decided on a career change and it just went on from there. I started off as a part time assistant and progressed quite quickly to my promotion here as head verger."

Originally from Carlisle, Howard's first move was to take on the role of canon's verger at Hereford Cathedral. And although he admitted the move back north was strange at first, he quickly made lasting friendships.

"It was different," he said. "Although I had been in the north before, to go from Hereford, which was by the river and a relatively rural setting, to come into a town centre environment was difficult.

"But I've got some good memories of Blackburn and I've made lots of friends who I hope to keep in touch with."

A verger is a committed lay minister within the Church who assists the clergy in the conduct of public worship, especially in the marshalling of processions. Duties can be purely ceremonial or include other responsibilities, such as parish administration, leadership of the worship committee or sexton.

Howard has worked under former Provost David Frayne and the current Dean of Blackburn the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong said: "Howard has been an indispensable member of the team. He has been responsible for the execution of services and the keeping of good order, the security of the building and a great deal of maintenance.

"He's been quite superb and we're proud that he's got one of the top jobs in the country."